The Centre is preparing to lift the lockdown by deciding to open up malls, restaurants, offices, religious places, hotels, and other hospitality units. On June 4, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released standard operating procedures (SOPs) to open up these specific public places. However, all malls, restaurants, places of religious worship, hotels, and offices in containment zones will remain closed.
SOPs for hotels
All guest’s details, including travel history, medical condition, ID, and self-declaration form will be maintained. Luggage will be disinfected before being sent to the rooms. Restaurant menus will be disposables, cloth napkins will be discouraged, take-away options will be encouraged instead of dine-in.Â
SOPs for malls
Gaming arcades, children’s play areas, and cinema halls shall remain closed. Visitors will be staggered, if possible. Food courts and restaurants will operate at not more than 50% of their capacity. People must follow social distancing norms in buffet service. Valet parking should be operational, and the disinfection of steering, door handles, and keys of vehicles will be done.Â
Air-conditioning in these places will always be between 24º and 30º Celsius, with relative humidity between 40 and 70%. Fresh air and cross-ventilation should be adequate. Contactless transaction processes like QR code scanning, filling up of online forms, digital payments like e-wallet will have to be adopted
SOPs for religious places
 Shoes and footwear should be taken off inside their vehicle. Touching of statues, idols, and holy books will not be allowed. Preferably, recorded devotional music will be played, and choirs or singing groups will not be allowed. Physical contact while greeting should be avoided. Common prayer mats will be avoided. Physical offerings like ‘prasad,’ or a sprinkling of holy water are not allowed. Community kitchens like ‘langars,’ must follow social distancing norms.
People above 65 years, those with serious conditions (heart, kidney disease, diabetes, blood pressure, and so on) and children below ten are not allowed (except for essential and health purposes in these places).
SOPs in offices
If any cases are reported, the areas visited by the patient in the past 48 hours will be disinfected. In case of a large outbreak, the building will have to be closed for sanitization. The physical distancing of at least six feet, use of face masks, frequent hand-washing, following respiratory etiquettes have to be strictly followed. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has advised using Aarogya Setu App.
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